The Most Important Thing
In the capital of the Liannen Empire, Terezia, something utterly absurd had occurred.
"Which house's crest is this?"
"Hold on. Let me check the mage tower records... Ah, it's the emblem of the Hofen family, which fell ten years ago."
A carriage arrived. No coachman in sight—just two sturdy horses pulling it along. When the guards peered inside, they widened their eyes in disbelief.
"What?"
"The hell is this?"
Two nobles were bound tightly with ropes, breathing faintly. And scrawled across their foreheads was...
"Insane handwriting."
"Did a five-year-old write this?"
Unfortunately, it was illegible.
"What's going on here?"
Edward Windsor happened to pass by just then. Fortunately, he was one of the rare few in the world who could decipher that atrocious script.
"...Sisilia sexual harassers?"
Edward instantly grasped the whole situation and chuckled softly.
"Looks like I've lost to you again, Sisilia."
He'd thought there was only one way to end the eastern war: kill them all. He'd hoped this incident would paint Sisilia in a grim light.
But apparently, it wasn't enough.
To deliver such a ridiculous yet perfect solution.
'All the high officials in this country are on her side. She figured they'd handle it themselves if she just scribbled this on a note and sent them over.'
And she was right. Naturally, these idiots hadn't actually harassed Sisilia—though even if they had, it was par for the course in her daily life. She wasn't petty enough to sweat every little thing.
But there was intent here. A request to give them a moderate thrashing.
'If I intervene and let them go here, no one would know her true aim, and these two nobles would be left off the hook.'
That was an option, but Edward decided against it.
"...The fact that you're still pulling off nonsense like this means you didn't bat an eye out east. Anything more would backfire."
Edward glanced at the two nobles, who looked like they had plenty to say, then turned on his heel, cape billowing.
"Take them to the Windsor Knights' interrogation room. Daring to harass the vice-captain."
Meanwhile, in the Liannen imperial palace, upon hearing the report:
"Sisilia caught some sexual harassers and sent them straight to the capital. She really has a talent for making everything seem trivial."
Lydia gave an awkward smile.
"Doesn't it feel like she's onto us...?"
"Your Majesty. Is that something to say about a knight working hard in the east?"
"..."
Of course, Lydia knew all about the east's issues. She hadn't intervened because she deemed it necessary.
The eastern lands were vast, one of the few safe from demons, with fertile soil to boot. In other words, the noble factions needed periodic checks.
Leave them be, and their bellies would fill, breeding disloyal thoughts—that's human nature.
So Lydia had deliberately fostered a power struggle in the east, letting the nobles devour each other and focus inward.
"But we haven't had the time or leeway to turn our gaze east."
"...You're right; it's problematic. But Sisilia won't care about Your Majesty's circumstances."
Erterion said it with a hint of pride, as if it were his own doing.
"She only thinks of the people's suffering. Unlike Your Majesty, pondering politics even now."
"Don't paint me as the villain, Guardian Knight Erterion."
"It's an honorary position with no pay—what's the harm?"
Lydia whistled—unlike Sisilia, it actually made a sound.
"But Sir Erterion, even if Sisilia seems thoughtless, that's not the case."
Lydia smiled coldly. Sisilia surely understood the setup. Her actions so far proved she was a knight of exceptional strategy.
Yet she'd chosen this outcome—
"With the Eldrashion Empire now in our fold, unity is paramount. All nobles and commoners must stand together."
Lydia marveled at Sisilia's profound insight. And it felt reassuring. Amid her headaches over imperial matters, a minister who caught what she missed was worth ten million gold.
"When she returns, I should give her an incentive."
***
"Lady Sisilia. Um, I have a question."
Beatrice said gravely.
"Where's this massive enemy you mentioned?"
After Sisilia blithely slaughtered the two strongest knights from each camp and single-handedly ended the war.
Beatrice thought Sisilia was utterly cool, a genius.
—She never spares an enemy when it's time to kill.
True to her word, Sisilia had ended the war with minimal lives lost. A conflict that might have claimed thousands, snuffed out with just two heads.
Perfection itself. Now, just mop up the remnants—rally the shattered factions and close out the chaos.
With the Windsor Knights' name, it was simple. Or play her second card: 'duchess.'
Had Chiron not become academy headmaster, the east would have been her original post anyway. Her, his daughter, unifying it? Ideal scenario.
Beatrice assumed Sisilia had planned this clean finish too. That's why she hadn't questioned heading to this semi-remote territory—still a major city, but off the beaten path.
—Now, just deal with the massive enemy.
She'd trusted those meaningful words.
But...
"All I see are dessert shops, Lady Sisilnyang."
Beatrice's lips twitched.
Sisilia was stuck in place, neck grabbed by Beatrice.
"Strawberry pie is humanity's enemy. Gotta eat 'em all."
The east's fertile soil grew killer strawberries. Even Sisilia's fave, Golden Honeycomb, imported from here.
A sacred mission to taste-test.
And above all, newbie-licking time!
Beatrice eyed the sparkling Sisilia coldly.
"...What about the war?"
"Later. Strawberry pie first. Dessert's best saved for last."
"...Isn't strawberry pie the dessert?"
"Nah. This is the main course."
'She really has no plan...!'
Beatrice's trust shattered, emotions surging.
"Leaving it chaotic will cause bigger problems! I'll buy tons of strawberry pie later!"
"N-nooo."
Sisilia shook her head wildly. Newbies and pie danced in her vision.
"Don't wanna work! This is enough already! Strawberry! Strawberrieees!"
"Please reclaim the memories of the flawless Sword Princess!"
Beatrice dragged her out, activating her Aura. Thick lines of light shot from Tut territory.
***
If only wars ended just because someone said "don't fight." Full-scale battle halted, but with both camps' bosses gone, shadows stirred.
Now, bloody hunts for the next heirs.
Sisilia had saved a few since, sending others to the goddess's embrace.
"This place is hopeless. Did my warning bounce off Betty's chest?"
"M-my chest what?"
"Soft 'n squishy."
"...Glad it looks healthy."
Beatrice wasn't sure if she should be relieved by Sisilia's cheer amid the gloom.
Anyway, Sisilia's special Rx—head-chopping—had flopped. Instead of crumbling, the power struggles intensified.
"Need a Demon King. Who's it gonna be?"
This mess wouldn't end without an overwhelming powerhouse.
"Time for Lady Sisilia to step up! Showing us?"
Beatrice clenched her fists, eyes shining with anticipation. Maybe witness history up close.
"White today. If you wanna see it that bad."
"...My apologies."
Sisilia gazed wistfully. Toward Hofenbrim territory, strawberry pie regrets lingering.
"This Demon King should be an adventurer."
Decoding Sisilish, Beatrice puzzled. Not literal Demon King—metaphor for east's hegemon.
...Adventurer?
"Newbies need events to become nobles too."
Beatrice sweated, hugging Sisilia from behind.
"...Please hold it together."
***
"Lancaster and York vanished overnight?"
In Tut territory's adventurer guild, a boy lowered his voice tensely.
"...Why?"
"No one knows. Rumor says a unbelievably beautiful girl in a white dress killed them both. Ridiculous, right?"
"...Who's spreading kid-level gossip like that?"
The boy was Aiden. Fallen noble with deep grudges against Lancaster and York houses, now hiding as an adventurer, dreaming revenge.
"They say she slew two Sword Emperors on the battlefield with one strike."
"...Joking? If possible, Liannen would've conquered the world already."
"But rumors mention the Windsor Knights dispatched from the capital."
Aiden's face hardened at "Windsor."
"Windsor Knights are manufactured heroes. Central government's illusion."
His guard Raoul smiled bitterly. Aiden once adored them as an ordinary boy. But that innocent kid was gone, scarred by betrayed hopes.
"Still, good news. We can head to Greyslam now."
Greyslam held William the Sword Sovereign, sole aid for Aiden—his uncle, reliable ally.
Problem: war-blocked roads. Hunted by those nobles, Aiden was stuck in Tut—till this opened paths.
"To avoid suspicion, best find an adventurer party for Greyslam."
"Not easy. Trustworthy ones with real strength..."
As they pondered, Tut guards buzzed.
"Captain! Some adventurer causing a ruckus!"
"...Adventurer?"
Frowning at the unfamiliar term, the captain recalled last year's new guild.
"Oh, those mercenaries?"
"Yeah, seems from Terezia. Wouldn't let 'em in, now demanding the boss..."
"Merc from the capital causing trouble? Just wave 'em through. Why bother me?"
"B-but they look super suspicious."
"Everyone from the royal road to the east is weird anyway."
"...Two girls in blood-soaked dresses with flowers in their hair?"
"...That's suspicious as hell."
No—terrifying.
Captain Breco emerged for once.
"Th-they really are in bloodied dresses with flowers."
Matching his subordinate's description perfectly, he was speechless.
"Hey, what's with the blood?"
"Period."
And their words were off too. Breco flinched, face flushing, then coughed.
"Makes no sense. Covered head to toe. That—human blood?"
Sisilia narrowed her eyes, rummaging Beatrice.
Pulled out two golds, offering them expectantly.
"...Ahem."
Eyes shifting at the gold, Breco pocketed them with a cough.
"Cleared."
Thus, Sisilia entered the major city she'd once been booted from.
Purpose: one. Find the newbie to seize east's hegemony.
First stop, naturally—
"One strawberry pie, please!"
"...Can't rein in Lady Sisilia at all."
Beatrice slumped. Parenting difficulty: extreme.